Natural hazards · Newton

Newton, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Newton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1985. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Newton?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Newton to be higher than in 65% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding41%Earthquakes32%Tornadoes9%Strong wind6%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Newton faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

41% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

32% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. places

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Newton flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Newton, from FEMA’s records.

6paid claims since 1985

$115Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19852026

Biggest named events

Early winter storms: 1 claim, $878

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Newton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Jasper County.

Disasters that hit Newton

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Newton itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Newton.

Brought FEMA money into NewtonDeclared for Jasper County only

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$4K to the City of Newton for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

19 households applied for aid $45K aid approved $16K to the City of Newton for repairs

2002

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

$4K to the City of Newton for repairs

Jasper County has had 7 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and tornadoes.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Newton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Newton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Newton. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Newton total about $2.0M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.